Hello. That's me to the left, at the top of the Chevin, with my home town of Otley visible to the left of the photo. Climbing that hill is part of the practice for climbing one of the biggest hills there is.

In January 2008, I intend to spend my 27th birthday trekking through Tanzania, culminating in an ascent of Kilimanjaro. This is part of a group event organised by Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), designed to take place over ten days. This is going to be a huge challenge, covering all kinds of environments from plains to jungle to the mountain itself, covering landmarks such as Maundi Crater and Gilman's Point. Even the training has been demanding, with many hours clocked up at the gym and in simply walking to get ready for the trek.

VSO does a lot of good work in the developing world, covering thirty seperate nations, and providing over 1500 skilled volunteers in areas including education, healthcare, finance, and agriculture. The focus is on sustainable development and the provision of long term benefits, with the volunteers all being qualified and experienced professionals who provide valuable training and expertise to the local people, that would not otherwise be available. The intent is to cause long-term change through partnerships and extended projects, instead of short-term relief.

When there is always a news story about a new crisis in Africa or Asia, it is easy to become pessimistic and assume that a small donation could not make a significant difference. But to an individual suffering from the effects of poverty, even a small donation can make a huge difference. For example, only five pounds could support a volunteer for a day. £25 could help set up a business scheme, which would give long-term benefits, and free a community from the need to rely on hand-outs. £100 could sponsor a volunteer doctor for a whole month, during which time dozens of people would be aided, and lives saved.

Of course, doing these things requires money, which is the purpose of the sponsored treks, such as this one. This project has been a goal of mine for some time, both to travel to such a wonderful place and in the process, make a tangible difference about poverty, and I am looking forward to it. Any sponsorship you could provide would be very welcome, and contribute towards making a difference to some of the poorest places on Earth.

Donating through this site is easy and safe. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Voluntary Service Overseas will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

All support is gratefully appreciated.